USS Antelope (PG-86)

USS Antelope (PG-86) was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma,
Washington, and commissioned in November, 1967. It was the third ship of the
Asheville Class of Patrol Gunboats. Antelope was one of two Patrol Gunboats
fitted with the MK-87 Fire Control System, a highly sophisticated, track-while-scan,
digital fire control radar which controlled both the 3 inch gun mount and,
later, the RIM-66B STANDARD surface-to-surface missile system.

The
emblem of Patrol Gunboat 86 pictures the stag pronghorn antelope, a native
of our country’s western plains. The pronghorn is known for his great speed,
agility, and constant watchfulness, and thus, epitomizes these admirable qualities
in ANTELOPE and the men who man her. The motto "Keeping the Watch" draws a
parallel between the vigilance of this noble animal and the vigilance of all
mariners.

Initially homeported in Guam, Antelope participated in operations in South
Viet Nam and was involved in the sinking of a large North Vietnamese trawler
in south Vietnamese territorial waters April 11.

The approximately 160-foot enemy vessel was intercepted
while heading toward shore near the South China coast in the lower Ca Mau
Peninsula, 175 miles southwest of Saigon. Antelope together with the Vietnamese
Navy motor patrol gunboat HQ-619 challenged the trawler. The trawler refused
to surrender and attempted to evade.

After warning shots were fired by Antelope, the enemy trawler
opened fire while trying to escape. U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutters
Rush and Morgenthau then moved into position to provide support with their
five-inch guns.

The incident later broke into a surface action as the trawler
continued to exchange fire with the U.S. and Vietnamese ships. "Black Pony"
OV-10 aircraft from Light Attack Squadron Four aided the allied ships with
rocket and machine gun attacks on the enemy boat. Eventually the enemy trawler
exploded and disappeared from radar screens.

Antelope before conversion to missiles.

Antelope subsequently changed homeports to Long Beach, CA. Assigned
to Commander, Coastal Division Thirty Two, headquartered in San Diego, Antelope
began a major conversion and overhaul at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which
included the installation of two box launchers, each containing two STANDARD
RIM-66B surface-to-surface missiles, and integration into the MK-87 Fire Control
System. Following successful system testing on the Pacific Missile Range,
Antelope departed Long Beach in July, 1972 for Little Creek VA and, ultimately,
her new homeport of Naples, Italy.

Antelope after conversion to missiles.

Antelope departed Little Creek in company with USS Graham County (AGP-1176),
a bow-door LST which had recently been converted to serve as a Patrol Gunboat
tender and support ship. She arrived in Naples in September, 1972, joining
USS Defiance (PG-95) and USS Surprise (PG-97), also homeported in Naples,
but not fitted with surface-to-surface missiles.

Good things come in small packages!

Antelope became an element of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, attached to Patrol
Division Twenty One, conducting numerous operations, usually serving as Orange
Forces simulating Soviet anti-ship missile platforms during Sixth Fleet exercises.
Other notable operations included joint operations with Greek fast patrol
boats, an initial "show the flag" visits to La Maddalena Sardinia in advance
of the homeporting of a submarine tender and nuclear submarines, and a port
visit to Split, Yugoslavia while it was still a Communist country. Antelope
joined other Sixth Fleet forces in extended real world operations, patrolling
Eastern Mediterranean waters during the Jordanian Crisis in October, 1973.

Antelope and her sister ship Ready returned to Little Creek in July 1977
and on 01 October, 1977 were decommissioned. Former Chief of Naval Operations,
Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr., who had been instrumental in the missile conversion
and forward deployment of the Patrol Gunboat, was the guest speaker. Antelope
was subsequently transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency, renamed
Oceanographic Survey Vessel (OSV) Peter W. Anderson and is now homeported
in Annapolis MD.

A special Thank-you and "BRAVO ZULU" to Captain David A. Spriggs, USNR,
for providing this information on the USS Antelope . Captain Spriggs was assigned
to the USS Ready as Engineering Officer from September, 1971 until June, 1972.
At that time, he assumed duties as Executive Officer / Operations Officer
until October, 1973.

I just thought PG Riders would like to know that the
Antelope continues to serve the government. She is now the Peter W.
Anderson, an ocean survey ship that covers the US East Coast and parts
of the Caribbean for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She is
homeported in Annapolis, MD. Military Sealift Command has an agreement
with EPA to manage the ship. The current contract operator is with Metson
Marine Services. Capt Bruce Strong (USN-Retd) is the ship manager and
I am the project coordinator for MSC. Ship is crewed by a mix of merchant
marine officers and men (16 total) who have lots of experience working
on PGs. Trying to keep a ship that old running is a challenge! Ship's
email address is osvpwanderson@mindspring.com.
A picture of the ship can be found at:
The
Ocean Survey Vessel (OSV) Peter W. Anderson.